Great Catholic Homilies

"Faith comes by hearing, and what is heard is the Word of Christ."

Posts Tagged ‘marriage’

Through Jesus’ passionate love, we gain life

Wednesday, May 2nd, 2012

Photo of Fr. Brankin. Go to Fr. Brankin's bio.Passion Sunday, Mar. 25, 2012
Fr. Anthony Brankin

(Full text of sermon) Often pundits talk about the dumbing-down of our twentieth and twenty-first century society.

Think of it: our parents and grandparents—who probably had very little formal education were more understanding and aware of things and ideas and processes and even vocabulary than any of their children or grandchildren This dumbing down certainly has taken place in America of course—look at our speech and vocabulary.

A child of only fifty years ago was not only aware of Latin—he used Latin type words in his everyday speech. Certainly he was familiar with Latin because of the Mass, but that child was also aware that so much of our language came from Latin—and that fact helped that child immeasurably in understanding the words he or she might use and therefore why we use them. Continue Reading…

Wise men show that heaven is for everyone

Monday, January 3rd, 2011

Epiphany of the Lord, Jan. 2, 2010
Fr. Hilary Mahaney
Gospel: Matt. 2:1-12.
Wise men’s visit to Bethlehem
(Sorry, no audio)

Summary: The wise men came from non-Jewish nations, and this shows that everyone is called to heaven, not just the Jewish nation. God has called us to be his instruments. He needs people to say “yes” to Him. Vatican Council II teaches that Baptism is a vocation, and with it comes mission. The early Christians spread the faith. That goes for us, too, whether we are in a trade, profession, whether we are a homemaker, or whatever.

Marriage and the family are the foundation of society. God is counting on us to keep the star of Bethlehem alive in our lives. We find Christ in the sacraments of Penance and the Eucharist, and in prayer. Let  us entrust ourselves to Mary, who will lead us to Christ.

“Gay” marriage is the fallout of the birth control pill

Sunday, December 26th, 2010

Feast of the Holy Family, Dec. 26, 2010
Fr. Anthony Brankin
Gospel: Matt. 2:13-15, 19-23. The angel tells Joseph to go to Nazareth
Audio MP3

Summary: The government’s approval of homosexuals in the military this week is a dark portent of things to come. Eventually, army chaplains will not be allowed to talk about the sanctity of marriage, and this thinking will work its way into the fabric of society. Public school teachers will probably be forced to back the acceptance of the homosexual lifestyle.

Go to the Sisters' Facebook page.The twin apostolates of prayer and the education of young women are pursued by the Visitation Sisters of Georgetown. Are you searching for God’s calling? Consider a life with the Sisters of the Order of the Visitation of Holy Mary, Washington, DC.

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A heresy that wars against marriage

Sunday, August 22nd, 2010

21st Sunday in ordinary time, August 22, 2010
Fr. Anthony Brankin
Gospel: Luke 13:22-30 Enter through the narrow door.

MP3 Audio 13 min.

Summary: One thousand years ago a belief called Albigensianism taught that there was a god of good and a god of evil. Followers of this heresy believed that anything that was made of matter was evil and only the spiritual was good. They believed in ritual suicide and condemned marriage as a sin. It took a military crusade to put it down. Today we have the same beliefs, although without the rituals. People do not get married, but when they have children there is no father, and thus we have young violent males who murder others.

We must recapture the beliefs and morals of our grandparents, that of a commitment to love, marriage, and families. One idea is to have chaperones on dates. Overall, we must 1) believe in marriage, 2) end contraception in marriage, and 3) raise our children carefully.

This homily is brought to you by the Georgetown Visitation Sisters, in Washington, D.C. Saint Francis de Sales’ “little virtues” of gentleness, kindness, humility, and cheerful optimism shape monastic life for these sisters.

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IL Catholic Prayer Breakfast – Bishop Cordileon: Why marriage must be preserved

Friday, April 30th, 2010

Part I of a two-part talk. April 30, 2010
His Excellency Salvatore Cordileone
Click for audioMP3 Audio. 31 min.

This is part I of the talk of Bishop Cordileon, bishop of Oakland, CA at the Illinois Catholic Prayer Breakfast, held April 30 in Chicago. The bishop lays the foundation that the dignity of the human person is at the root of marriage. While other issues are important, there is a hierarchy of values. Marriage and the family form the primary cell of society. Church documents are cited, such as Dignitatis Humanae (The dignity of the human person), EvangeliumVitae (Gospel of life), and Caritatis in Veritatis (Love in truth). For information about the annual event, go to Illinois Catholic Prayer Breakfast.